A1 · Beginner · Food and drink
Cook a simple meal
6 short A1 English scripts to practise how to cook a simple meal. Read one out loud, record yourself, listen back and try again.
Key phrase First…, then…, and then…
Dad, the water is boiling
Dad, it's me. I'm making pasta. What do I do first? A pot. Okay. Water in the pot, then I boil it. How long? Ten minutes?
Wait, I need a pan for the sauce. Add the tomatoes. Add what? Garlic? I don't have garlic. Stir? Stir what? Dad? Dad, the water is boiling!
American English
Dad, it's me. I'm making spaghetti. What do I do first? A pot. Okay. Water in the pot, then I boil it. How long? Ten minutes?
Hold on, I need a pan for the sauce. Add the tomatoes. Add what? Garlic? I don't have garlic. Stir? Stir what? Dad? Dad, the water is boiling!
Gran's banana bread
Okay, Gran's recipe. First, cut the bananas. Small pieces. Then mix them with sugar and flour in a big bowl.
Now bake it for forty minutes. Forty? She writes "until it smells good." What kind of recipe is that? Oh, I love her. Okay, I'll bake until it smells good.
American English
Okay, Grandma's recipe. First, cut the bananas. Small pieces. Then mix them with sugar and flour in a big bowl.
Now bake it for forty minutes. Forty? She writes "until it smells good." What kind of recipe is that? Oh, I love her. Okay, I'll bake until it smells good.
It's burning!
Don't worry, I can heat up the soup. It's easy. Turn on the cooker, medium.
Oh no, it's burning! Quick, turn down the heat! Which button? Okay, off. Phew. Almost a disaster. Let it cool for five minutes. Don't eat it now, you'll burn your mouth.
American English
Don't worry, I can heat up the soup. It's easy. Turn on the stove, medium.
Oh no, it's burning! Quick, turn down the heat! Which knob? Okay, off. Whew. Almost a disaster. Let it cool for five minutes. Don't eat it now, you'll burn your mouth.
Chef Selin explains
Chef Selin here, with a very simple pasta. Put the pasta in the pot. Add a pinch of salt. Not a handful. A pinch!
When it's soft, drain the water. Then a little oil, and it's done. If anyone says it needs more salt, show them the door.
American English
Chef Selin here, with a super simple pasta. Put the pasta in the pot. Add a pinch of salt. Not a handful. A pinch!
When it's soft, drain the water. Then a little oil, and you're done. If anybody says it needs more salt, show them the door.
I'm a chef now
I made it from scratch, step by step, with a video. Look at it! Okay, don't look at it. Taste it.
The video says to serve it with rice. So I serve it with rice. Is it good? Delicious? Really? You're not just being kind? Okay, then. I'm a chef now. Please call me Chef.
American English
I made it from scratch, step by step, with a video. Look at it! Okay, don't look at it. Try it.
The video says to serve it with rice. So I serve it with rice. Is it good? Delicious? Really? You're not just being nice? Okay, then. I'm a chef now. Please call me Chef.
Breakfast in bed, sort of
Shh! Mum is still asleep. Breakfast in bed! First, melt the butter in the frying pan. Not too hot, Kerem!
Now crack the eggs. Oops, a bit of shell. It's fine. Extra crunch. Wait one minute, then turn over the omelette. It won't turn over. It's broken. It's scrambled eggs now. Happy birthday, Mum!
American English
Shh! Mom is still asleep. Breakfast in bed! First, melt the butter in the skillet. Not too hot, Kerem!
Now crack the eggs. Oops, a bit of shell. It's fine. Extra crunch. Wait one minute, then turn over the omelet. It won't turn over. It's broken. It's scrambled eggs now. Happy birthday, Mom!
Key words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| boil verb | heat water until it has big bubbles |
| pot noun | a deep round dish for cooking soup or pasta |
| pan noun | a flat round metal dish for cooking |
| stir verb | move food round and round with a spoon |